China-Europe freight train rides to rescue amid outbreak

A China-Europe Chang'an freight train arrived in Xi'an International Trade and Logistics (ITL) Park on March 15, loaded with 1,848 metric tons of flour from Kazakhstan, enough to supply 400,000 households in Xi'an, capital of China's Northwest Shaanxi province for half a month.

The freight train departed from Kazakhstan on March 6 and arrived in Alashankou port in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on March 11.

"After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, the city's household consumption has increased by four times at usual levels," said Jia Heyi, chairman of Xi'an Aiju Grain and Oil Industry Group Co.

"In order to ensure a stable supply of good quality and sufficient quantities, Aiju Grain and Oil Industry Group Co ordered 20,000 tons of high-quality flour and 40,000 tons of oil from Kazakhstan and transported it to Xi'an on the freight train," he added.

The normal operations of the freight train not only guaranteed the transport of goods used to meet the production needs of local Chinese companies, but also protects the grain and oil supplies of Xi'an citizens at an important time, Jia said.

To date, the freight train has made a total of 450 trips this year, transporting more than 370,000 tons of goods.

Officials said it ranks among the front rail freight performers in the country in term of the number of trips, heavy load rate and freight volumes.